Fighting continued on two fronts on Sunday as Israel targeted what it described as a Hezbollah “command centre” in Beirut, while in Gaza, rescuers reported 73 people killed in a single airstrike.
The strikes on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that the Iran-backed group had attempted to assassinate him by targeting his residence. The strikes also coincided with the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the strikes hit a residential building in Haret Hreik, near a mosque and a hospital in southern Beirut. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and an underground weapons facility, killing three Hezbollah militants in separate strikes.
On Saturday night, Israel had similarly reported attacks on weapons stores and a Hezbollah intelligence centre in southern Beirut. About 70 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Sunday, with the Israeli military intercepting some of them.
The intensity of the fighting was highlighted by NNA, which later reported 14 Israeli airstrikes on the village of Khiam in just 15 minutes.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant informed troops that Israel was increasing its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, aiming to destroy positions the group had intended to use for launching assaults on Israel.
The Lebanese army, which is not involved in the conflict, reported that three of its soldiers were killed by an Israeli strike on their vehicle in southern Lebanon.
In Gaza, the civil defence agency reported that an Israeli airstrike killed at least 73 Palestinians in Beit Lahia, located in the north of the territory. According to a spokesman for the agency, Mahmud Bassal, “Our civil defence teams recovered 73 bodies and numerous injured after the Israeli air force targeted a residential area in Beit Lahia.”
At Kamal Adwan Hospital, overwhelmed with casualties, many patients had to be treated on the floor, while the deceased were wrapped in white burial shrouds and laid in rows as their relatives gathered to mourn.
The Israeli military claimed it had targeted a “Hamas terror site” in Beit Lahia, adding that the casualty figures provided by Gaza authorities did not align with its own information.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, based in Jeddah, strongly condemned the airstrike, calling Israel’s actions in Gaza a “stain on the conscience of humanity.”
In southern Lebanon, NNA reported Israeli strikes on dozens of locations, including the city of Nabatiyeh, for the third time that week. An Israeli airstrike also partially destroyed a rescue worker centre affiliated with Hezbollah in Deir Al-Zahrani.
The Israeli military said it had killed over 65 Hezbollah fighters and hit dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed that it had launched multiple rocket barrages at Israel, including at the city of Haifa and three Israeli military bases.
The group also fired rockets at Israeli soldiers near the border villages of Markaba and Adaisseh, while NNA claimed Israeli forces used explosives to demolish buildings in these areas, as well as in Rab El Thalathine.
On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office reported that a drone was launched towards his residence in Caesarea, although neither he nor his wife were present, and no injuries occurred. Netanyahu described the attempted attack as a “grave mistake” by Hezbollah, although the group did not claim responsibility. Iran’s mission to the UN later stated that the action was carried out by Hezbollah.
Since the conflict began last month, at least 1,454 people in Lebanon have died, according to an AFP tally based on figures from Lebanon’s health ministry.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and their allies in the region have vowed to continue fighting after Israeli forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza on Wednesday.
The war was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack last year, which killed 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas and rescuing hostages, has resulted in the deaths of 42,603 people, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures to be reliable.
On 6 October, Israel launched a major ground and air assault to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping in northern Gaza, tightening its siege on the region and causing tens of thousands to flee.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said more than 400 bodies had been recovered from northern Gaza, including in Jabalia and its refugee camp, since the operation began.
Ahmad Saleh, a 36-year-old resident of Al-Tawbah in northern Gaza, described the dire situation: “We are trapped with no food, water, or medicine, facing starvation amid the destruction.”
Last week, Washington warned that it might reconsider part of its military aid to Israel unless humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza improve within 30 days.